The best Greek wedding islands, ranked
1. Santorini. Globally famous for caldera-edge ceremonies. The classic "wedding in white walls with blue dome behind, sunset over volcano" photo. Top venues: Santo Wines (winery cliff), El Greco Resort (caldera-edge), Le Ciel (private cliff venue), Nikos Theme.
2. Mykonos. For couples wanting a party wedding. Beach venues at Cavo Tagoo, Mykonos Theoxenia. More expensive than Santorini for similar guest counts. The post-ceremony beach club experience is unmatched.
3. Athens Riviera. Underrated. Astir Palace (Four Seasons) hosts weddings on private beaches with Acropolis-area accessibility. Cape Sounion's Temple of Poseidon backdrop is becoming popular.
4. Crete. For couples wanting bigger guest counts at lower per-head cost. Many resort options (Daios Cove, Blue Palace). Cretan villages can host smaller weddings.
5. Paros. Cycladic weddings without Santorini's price tag. Some excellent boutique venues (Thalassa Boutique Hotel area). Less famous = more available.
Costs (2026)
Greek destination weddings cost dramatically less per-head than US/UK weddings, but more than most travelers expect:
- Santorini wedding (50 guests): €25,000-50,000 venue + €15,000-30,000 catering + €5,000-15,000 photography/coordination + accommodation. Total: €60,000-120,000.
- Mykonos wedding (50 guests): €30,000-70,000 venue + €20,000-40,000 catering + others. Total: €70,000-160,000.
- Crete wedding (50 guests): €15,000-35,000 venue + €10,000-20,000 catering + others. Total: €40,000-80,000.
- Athens Riviera wedding (50 guests): €20,000-50,000 venue + €15,000-30,000 catering + others. Total: €50,000-100,000.
Legal requirements
Marrying legally in Greece requires foreign documents that must be apostilled (or attested by Greek consulate) and translated into Greek by a certified Greek translator. Required documents:
- Certificate of No Impediment / Affidavit of Eligibility (called κωλύματος γάμου)
- Birth certificate (recent issue)
- Passport copies
- If divorced: divorce certificate
- If widowed: previous spouse's death certificate
Allow 4-6 months minimum for paperwork. Many couples have a legal civil ceremony at home and a symbolic "wedding ceremony" in Greece — much less paperwork. Discuss this with a Greek wedding planner.
Best time of year for a Greek wedding
May: Weather warm but not hot, hotels available, prices lowest. Excellent.
June: Perfect weather, busy season starting. Peak wedding month — book 12 months ahead.
July-August: Hot (35°C+), expensive, peak. Avoid unless you specifically want hot summer aesthetic.
September: The most popular wedding month in Greece. Perfect weather, sea still warm, prices moderating, light is golden. Book 12-18 months ahead for prime weekend dates.
Early October: Still warm, prices drop, last great month.
Planning timeline
- 12-18 months ahead: Choose island and venue. Book hotel rooms.
- 9-12 months ahead: Hire wedding planner (essential for Greek weddings — local knowledge invaluable). Book photographer.
- 6-9 months ahead: Begin legal paperwork. Book catering, florist, transportation.
- 3-6 months ahead: Send invitations. Final menu tasting (impossible from afar). Coordinate with guest hotels.
- 1 month ahead: Final headcount, final timeline, deposit payments.